More about Kodungallur
Kodungallur, situated on the west coast, was once a great port of the Chera rulersof Tamilnadu, It was known by the Greek as as the Musris. Until the great floods os 1341, it was the most important Sea port of west coast. It was also the capital of Chera empire.The trading contacts of this port with the Roman Empire, Arabia and China from the Pre-Christian era resulted in the formation of the earliest Christian, Muslim and Jewish communities in the Indian sub continents. According to the legend of St.Thomas-Christianity arrived in Kodungallur in AD 52 and by A.D 69 Jews persecuted by the Roman Empire also reached here. The Jews shifted to cochin only after the destruction of the port in 1341. Islam also arrived along with Arabian merchants. The legend that the Cheraman Perumal the, last Emperor of Chera Dynasty introduced Islam and Left for Mecca shows the local community had no inhibiting to accept new ideas. Religious ideas from North India reach here in the form of Jainism & Buddhism.
Temples
Kodungallur temple: - In the Malayalam month of Meenam(March-April) groups of men and women from the South Indian states reach Kodungallur to participate in the famous Bharani festivel. The men often drunk, sing Obscene songs and slogans. They laugh, dance and abuse even the Goddess.Her sexual organs were subjected to the most elaborate and intricate descriptions. It is believed that the Goddess likes such description. These abusing words and poems are very popular in all the Professional colleges in Kerala by the name "Bharani paattu" (Bharani songs) After cursing and destroying the Madurai city, Kannaki reached Kodunagallur --the capital of Chera dynasty- (according to Silappadhikaram) and the songs are supposed to be for her satisfaction.
Kodungallur temple Bharani festivel
Other nearby temples
Thiruvanchikkalam temple: - Tiru Anjaikkalam is the only Shivastalam in Kerala which has been sung by the Nayanmars and is located in the vicinity of Kodungallur.
Vadakkunnathan Temple: - This temple is a classic example of the Kerala's style of architecture. The temple contains the sacred shrines of Paramashiva, Paravathy, Sankaranarayana, Ganapathy, Sri Rama and Sri Krishna. The central shrines and Koothambalam exhibit exquisite vignettes carved in wood. Legend goes that this temple was founded by Parasurama. "Thrissur Pooram" the grandest temple pageantry in Kerala, is celebrated here in April every year.
Thrissur pooram
Triprayar temple: - Rama temple at Triprayar features architecture similar to the Vadakknnantha temple, Thrissur.
Kutalmanikyam temple: - At Irinjalakuda, 16 km from Kodungallur, is a temple of Bharatha, probably the only temple in India dedicated to the brother of Lord Rama.
Guruvayur temple: - Guruvayur, also known as "Bhooloka Vaikuntha" where the Lord Krishna reveals Himself to His devotees in the same majestic form in which He welcomes them in Vaikuntha, His celestial abode. According to Sage Dattatreya, Brahma originally worshipped the imago at Guruvayur. Brahma gifted it to Vishnu. Krishna, as the incarnation of Vishnu,
Guruvayur temple
brought the idol also along with him to Dwaraka. When the time came for His ascent to Heaven, the Lord asked his foremost disciple and devotee, Uddhava to retrieve the idol from the impending submergence of Dwaraka in the sea and install it at a spot equally holy so that He could shower His blessings on His devotees and save them from the evil effects of kaliyuga. Uddhava entrusted the job to Guru, the preceptor of the Gods, and Vayu, the god of winds. They took possession of the idol and moved in search of a proper place. Ultimately they decided to install it near a lake full of lotuses, on one side of which there were Siva and Parvati. That is Guruvayur, the place (ur) having derived its name from Guru and Vayu who jointly installed the vigraha.
Kodungallur Juma Masjid
The first mosque in India is Situated in Methala, Kodungalloor, Legend says King Cheraman Perumal of Kodungallur left for Mecca, embraced Islam, accepted the name Thajudeen, married the sister of the then King of Jeddah. Before his death Thajuddeen handed over to the King of Jeddah several letters addressed to Kerala Kings seeking their help to propagate Islam. The Jiddah king came to Kerala and met the then king of Kodungalloor who helped the former to build a Juma Masjid. This mosque was designed and constructed based on Hindu art and architecture.The first mosque in India.
Juma Masjid now
Synagogues
It was here, the Jews arrived after the destruction of the second temple and the final desolation of Jerusalem (A.D. 69) and founded a colony. The Jews shifted to Fort Kochi in 1341 A.D after the Great flood. All the synagogues in Kerala - Chennamangalam, Mala, and Kochi - have similar traditional architectural features: a central bimah of brass or silver metal on a concrete or stone base, an ark on the western wall, a balcony above the eastern entry to the sanctuary that is used by the reader on certain holidays. Behind the balcony is the women's gallery, with a stairway leading up to it, usually from outside the building.The synagogue in
Synagogue at Chennamangalam
Chennamangalam was built in 1614 A.D. The synagogue is located in a peaceful wooded area. I.S. Hallegua reports of the tomb of a lady, dated 1264 C.E., in the courtyard.
Churches
It was here, according to common tradition, that the Apostle St. Thomas landed first, planted the Cross and preached Christianity in the opening years of the first century of the Christian Era (52 A.D).
St. Thomas Church, Kodungallur The impressive facade and the granite
obelisk double-cross at Puthenchira, the
seat of the last Archbishops of Kodungallur.
Back water and Boat Race
Aleppy (Alappuzha) is rich with the back waters and is also known as the "Venice of the East".
Kodungallur also is fameous for the back waters and the boat race at the Kodungallur lake(also known as the Canoli canal) The lagoons, small canals and the estuary of Azhikode make Kodungallur beautiful. One could travel right up to Kochi or Aleppy via the backwaters. Many beautiful sights greet you along the way, such as the Chinese fishing nets, said to have been introduced into Kerala by the traders from Kublai Khan's court.
Boat race in the Canoli Canal Chinese fishing net at Kochi
Waterfalls
<to be done>
Arts and Festivels
Kerala Kalamandalam
Kerala Kalamandalam, a distinguished centre of excellence in Performing Arts, which spearheaded the movement of cultural renaissance in Kerala. Established in 1930, this beautiful campus, seeped in classical music and dance,lies near the majestic River Nila in the village of Cheruthuruthy in Thrissur district. The ancient Gurukula system of education continues to be a living tradition in this school which has over the years become a significant milestone in
the cultural history of Kerala.
Kalamandalam is invariably the best institution in India imparting training and conducting performance of Kathakali, Mohiniyattam, Panchavadyam and Thullal. Beside the regular courses Kalamandalam also offer crash courses in different art disciplines.
Koodiyaattam Thullal Mohiniyattam
The basic aim of all these crash courses is to help theatre artists, classical and contemporary dancers, researchers, art historians and scholars from the East and the West who come to this land to familiarise with the performing art forms.
Pulikkali
A folk dance performed wearing costumes resembling tigers and leopards, in Trichur town during Onam days.
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